KUCHING: The force of ground support, as the pivotal factor in defining winnability and driving a candidate to victory, continues to feature in discussion among the local political circle with Dato Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom joining the fray to lend credence to the argument.

“Winnability is of utmost importance for candidate selection and this is only possible with sound and strong ground support, “ Dr Rundi, who is state Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary said emphatically.

Dr Rundi, who is also secretary-general of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), pointed out that among the factors that contributed to the strong ground support and acceptance for a prospective candidate were the latter’s good relationship with the local community, including the community leaders, clean history without any record of controversies and an endearing approach to dealing with the people.

He acknowledged that it would be a tough battle for BN if little attention was paid to ground support and acceptance but more time, instead, spent to reaffirming textbook rules and resolving internal conflict.

The subject of winnability and ground support recently caught the attention of the media and local political observers, following a media report that quoted Saratok MP Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom as saying that “a strong support base is the key factor in ensuring the winnability of the chosen BN candidate”.

In the same report, Mawan had also warned any aspiring candidate and party not to rock the BN boat and play up their right of claim to the detriment of unity and stability in Saratok constituency.

This was followed by a news report a few days later in which PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah, concurring with Mawan, stressed that all factors on candidacy must relate to the people’s choice and that strong grassroots support and acceptance must prevail in the consultation and decision-making process.

Abdul Karim also stressed that the sentiments of PBB grassroots leaders and members in Saratok must also be considered when choosing a candidate to stand under the BN ticket.